Shahbazids

The Shahbazids were a Kurdish-Turkish noble family of the Seljuk Empire, originating with the appointment of Timariot Shahbaz of Damqan on 17 November 1081.

History
The House of Shahbazid descended from Timariot Shahbaz of Damqan. Shahbaz was born a Miaphysite Christian Kurd, and he took part in a Miaphysite uprising against the Seljuk Empire in 1080. He was captured in one battle, but Seljuk sultan Malik Shah found mercy in himself and convinced Shahbaz to convert to Islam before releasing him from his dungeon in Qom. Shahbaz was appointed the Court Poet of Persia under Malik Shah, and on 17 November 1081 he became a noble when Malik Shah appointed him as the successor to Timariot Togtekin of Damqan.